Pin deck with resilient pad pin detecting structure



Oct. 11, 1966 R. TORRESEN 3,278,186

PIN DECK WITH RESILIENT PAD PIN DETECTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 18, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2, J3 3] o 19 .L 22 12 z 0 62 10 D i 0 O E ll 12 o Q G q. 0

In flnw fioberf Torre 5e 11/ Oct. 11, 1966 R. TORRESEN 3,278,186

PIN DECK WITH RESILIENT PAD PIN DETECTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 18, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1966 R. TORRESEN 3,278,136

PIN DECK WITH RESILIENT PAD PIN DETECTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 18, 196 0 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 11, 1966 R. TORRESEN 3,278,186

PIN DECK WITH RESILIENT PAD PIN DETECTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 18, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,278,186 PIN DECK WITH RESILIENT PAD PIN DETECTING STRUCTURE Robert Torresen, Muskegon, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 50,542 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-42) This invention relates to means for detecting standing pins on a bowling alley.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved pin detecting means of the type described.

A more specific object is to provide a new and improved pin detecting means in the form of switch mechanism on a pinsetter deck movable toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley.

Another object is to provide a new and improved switch mechanism of the type described in the preceding paragraph including resilient pads 011 the deck arranged to engage the heads of pins standing on spot or off spot within a predetermined area surrounding each spot when the deck is lowered toward the alley, a recess in the top of each pad, a metal plate in each recess movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad by a pin standing on spot or off spot, and circuit controlling means operably associated with the plate on movement thereof for energizing an indicating means.

In one embodiment, the movable plates in the resilient pads are movable directly into contact with the deck which is made of an electrically conductive material such as metal, so that the circuit is completed through the metal plates and the deck to obtain energization of the indicating means. In another embodiment, thin metal plates are secured to the deck between the deck and each of the resilient pads, and the movable plates in the pads are respectively engaged with the fixed plates so that a circuit is completed through the movable plates, the fixed plates, and the deck in order to energize the indicating means. Alternatively, in lieu of making the circuit through the movable plates in the resilient pads, the movable plates may be arranged to actuate the plunger of a microswitch for energizing the indicating means. In one construction, the switch is connected to the pinsetter deck and in an alternative construction is connected directly back to the source of power.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of a pinsetter deck structure including switch mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, taken at about the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating the switch mechanism in detail;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, fied form of switch mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating another embodiment of the switch mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a deck structure embodying another form of switch mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, taken at about the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, illustrating the switch iechanism in detail; and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the switch mechanisms of FIGS. 1-6 may be associated with an indicating means.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in illustrating a modi- 3,278,186 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the invention is illustrated in connection with a pinsetter deck structure, shown in part in FIG. 1, of the general type disclosed in Huck et al. application Serial No. 549,075, filed November 25, 1955, which matured into Patent No. 2,949,300, of August 16, 1960. This deck structure is a part of an automatic pinsetter as described in the aforementioned application, and is substantially horizontally disposed over the end of a bowling alley adjacent the pit for the purpose of receiving pins from a distributing mechanism disposed thereabove, setting the pins on the bowling alley in preparation for bowling and, after a ball has been rolled, picking up the pins which remain standing to permit the removal of dead wood and then resetting the last mentioned pins for continued bowling.

Generally, the deck structure is movable toward and away from the surface of the bowling alley over which it is installed by means not shown herein, and includes an upper deck 11 in the form of a generally triangularly shaped plate and a similarly shaped lower deck 12. The upper deck has suit-able openings therein as illustrated at 13 adjacent which suitable guide means may be provided for receiving bowling pins from a distributing mechanism disposed thereabove. Pins delivered to the openings 13 are adapted to rest upon suitable supports on the lower deck 12, such as the rollers illustrated at 15 normally disposed beneath the openings 13. The upper deck 11 is adapted to be moved rearwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1, relative to the lower deck in order to position pins carried thereby to drop through openings provided in the lower deck 12 as illustrated at 16. The upper deck 11 may be moved rearwardly as described by means not illustrated in detail herein when the entire deck structure is disposed closely adjacent the surface of the bowling alley in order to permit the setting of an entire complement of pins on the alley. Movement of the pins through the openings 13 and 16 may be assisted by suitable guide means as at 18 on the upper deck 11 adjacent the openings 13.

In order to accomplish the function of lifting standing pins from the alley to permit removal of dead wood, the upper deck 11 is provided on the underside thereof with circular resilient pads or disks as at 20, secured suitably to the underside of the upper deck and positioned to engage pins standing on the alley when the deck is lowered, whether the pins are standing exactly on the spots at which they were positioned or oil spot within a predetermined area surrounding the spot. Engagement of the pads 20 with the tops of standing pins holds the pins securely in position to be gripped at the necks thereof by means of scissors pickup mechanism as at 21, one associated with each opening 16 and each including a pair of scissors arms as at 22 pivotally mounted on the deck 12 and movable toward and away from each other to securely grip a pin standing within the opening 16. The scissors mechanism 21 1s disclosed in the aforementioned application and in more detail in the Sanford Patent No. 2,817,528, of December 24, 1957.

According to the present invention, means is associated with each of the resilient pads 20 for detecting the presence of a pin standing therebeneath in order to provide a signal for operating an indicating device to designate for a bowler the positions at which pins have been left standing after a ball has been rolled, In the em- 3 bodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin detecting means is in the form of a switch mechanism comprising a circular metal plate 30 positioned in a circular recess 31 provided in the upper surface of each pad 20. The pads may comprise sponge rubber or other suitable material secured to the deck as by an adhesive, for example, and compressible upon engagement of the pad with a standing pin when the deck is lowered toward the surface of the alley. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the pad may be molded with the recess 31 therein, or the recess may be provided by boring or hollowing a pad of uniform thickness. The plate positioned in the pad in the recess 31 is movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad by engagement with the head of a standing pin.

The plate 30 is engageable with an actuating plunger 33 of a switch 34 associated with each pad and adapted to be suitably wired in circuit with an indicating means so that a lamp is energized corresponding to each standing pin. The plunger 33 associated with each switch 34 projects through a suitable opening in the deck 11 to be moved upwardly by upward movement of the plate 30.

In operation, the arrangement is such that the switch actuating plunger 33, occupying a relatively limited area is adapted to be operated by a standing pin regardless of the position of the standing pin rel-ative to the plunger 33, so long as the pin is within the range of the pad 20. Upon initial deformation of the pad 20 by the head of the standing pin, the plate 30 may first be pivoted; upon continued deformation of the pad the plate 30 usually ultimately reaches a position substantially parallel to that shown in FIG. 2 but displaced upwardly therefrom and in contact with the deck 11. This assures operation of the microswitch whether the pin is on spot or off spot.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the switches 34 are each adapted to be mounted on the upper deck 11 over the associated resilient pad 20 by means of a bracket 36 having a lower end 37 secured to the deck 11 and an upper U-shaped end 38 for receiving the microswitch 34, which may be secured to the bracket as by bolt and nut means 39. The lower end 37 of the bracket may be secured to the deck as by bolt and nut means 40.

Each switch 34 includes a wire as at 42 connected to one side of the switch and adapted for connection in circuit with an indicating means as described hereinafter, and a wire 43 connected to the other side of the switch and connected to the deck 11 throught the medium of the bolt and nut means 40. The upper deck 11 is comprised of electrically conductive metal and is in turn connected back to the source as by a wire 45.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of switch mechanism which may be associated with a deck structure such as that shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the upper deck plate 11a has resilient pads as at 20a secured thereto as by adhesive, and each provided with a circular recess as at 31a in the upper surface thereof for receiving an electrically conductive plate, such as metal, as at 30a, movable upwardly into contact with the deck plate 11a upon deformation of the pad 20a by engagement with the head of a standing pin when the deck structure is lowered toward the surface of a bowling alley therebeneath. The deck 11a may be connected in circuit as by a wire 45a, and each plate 30a is electrically connected to a wire as at 42a which may be soldered or otherwise secured to a tab 47 on the plate 30a, projecting outwardly through an opening 48 in the ring surrounding the recess 31a.

In FIG. 3, it will be understood that in operation, in lieu of a microswitch as shown at 34 in FIG. 2, the switching function is obtained by means of plate 30a and the deck plate 11a which function respectively as movable and stationary switch contacts. This switching mechanism may be connected in a circuit similar to that utilizing the switch mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2, as described hereinafter, and has the advantage of providing a more economical construction by virtue of the omission of microswitches as at 34 in FIGS.1 and 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper deck plate 11b may be provided with resilient pads as at 20b provided with recesses in the upper surfaces thereof as at 31b for receiving conductive metal plates as at 30b, each movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad to engage a circular conductive metal plate 50 secured to the deck plate 11b as by bolt and nut means 51. In this construction, the plates as at 50 are secured in circuit making contact with the deck plate 11b and are adapted for circuit making contact with the plates 30b associated respectively therewith.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 4 has the advantage that the thin circular metal plates 50, as well as the plates 30b, which make up the individual switch mechanisms may be comprised of a good conductive material also highly resistant to corrosion, whereas the deck plate as at 1112 is usually constructed of aluminum which is subject to corrosion and may not provide as good a circuit making contact as that provided between the plates 50 and 30b.

The deck 11b may be connected in circuit by a wire 45b, and the plate 30b may be connected in circuit with the indicating means as by a wire 42b. The resilient pad is suitably secured to the metal plate 50 as by means of adhesive material.

In FIG. 4, the recess 31b in the upper surface may be provided by adhering a ring of suitable material such as neoprene, for example, as at 53 to the upper surface of a resilient pad or disk of uniform thickness. This construction may be used in lieu of molding or boring a recess in a pad of uniform thickness as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. At the same time, it will be understood the pad construction in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6, an upper deck is provided at appropriate positions with circular resilient disks as at 200, each having in the upper surface thereof a circular recess as at 310 for receiving a circular metal or other rigid plate as at 300. As in the modifications described hereinabove, the plate 30c is movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad 20c by engagement with the head of a standing pin. In this embodiment, a switch is provided as at 340 above each of the plates 30c and each switch includes an actuating plunger 33c engageable by the associated plate 300 to actuate the switch 340. The switches 340 are mounted respectively by brackets as at 108 suitably secured to the deck 110 as by means 109. In this embodiment, opposite sides of the switch are connected respectively to wires 42c and 430.

Referring to the wiring diagram of FIG. 7, pin detecting switches 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, 105-4, 105-5, 105-6, 105-7, 105-8, 105-9 and 105-10, correspond respectively to pin positions #1 through #10 and correspond respectively to the individual switches 34 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the individual switches 30a, 11a of FIG. 3, the individual switches 30b, 50 of FIG. 4, and the individual switches 34c of FIGS. 5 and 6. Switches 105 are shown connected to a common wire in series circuit with a source of power represented by the secondary of a transformer 116. The wire 115 is representative of the deck 11 and wire 45 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the deck 11a and wire 45a in FIG. 3, and the deck 11b and wire 45b in FIG. 4. The switches 105 are wired in parallel with each other by conductors 116 each shown connected to the wire 115 and each connected to a lamp 117 so that the lamps are in series respectively with the switches 105 and in parallel with each other. The wires 116 are representative of the wires 42, 42a, 42b and 420 in FIGS. l-6. The lamps in turn are all connected to a wire 118 in turn connected to a conductor 119 from the source represented by the transformer secondary. It will be understood that the circuit enables energization of lamps 117 sms, 186

corresponding respectively to switches 105 actuated by standing pins. Preferably, the lamps 117 are physically arranged in a triangular pattern (not shown) corresponding to the arrangement of pins on a bowling alley so that the lamps clearly indicate to a bowler the position of pins standing on the alley.

In the preferred diagram illustrated in FIG. 7, holding circuits are preferably provided in order that the lamps 117 may remain energized after the switches 105 have been opened. In operation, it is contemplated that the deck 11 will be lowered after the first ball in a frame has been rolled in order to test for standing pins, and in order to lift such pins while dead wood is removed from the alley. During this time, switches 105 will be actuated corresponding to those pins which are left standing after the first ball is rolled. After removal of the dead wood, the pins are reset and the deck again elevated, at which time the actuated switches 105 open. The holding circuits are provided to maintain the lamps 117 energized after the switches 105 open until such time as a normally closed reset switch 121 is opened, whereupon the holding circuits are opened and the lamps de-energized. The reset switch 121 preferably remains closed until after the second ball in a frame has been rolled whereupon this switch is opened to open the holding circuits and de-energize the lamps 117, as explained more in detail hereinafter.

In order to close the holding circuits referred to, a relay 123 is wired in series with each switch 105 and in parallel with the corresponding lamp 117, so that the relay is energized through a wire 124 from wire 116, and a wire 125 in turn connected to the wire 119. By this arrangement it will be understood that for each switch 105 actuated by a standing pin, a corresponding lamp 117 is energized and a corresponding relay is energized by means of a corresponding wire 124 and a corresponding wire 125. Each of the relays 123 upon energization effects closure of a normally open switch 126 in a wire 127. The wires 127 are connected respectively to the wires 125 and each is also connected to a common wire 130 in turn connected by a wire 131 in circuit with the reset switch 121 which has its opposite side connected by a wire 132 to the source represented by the secondary of transformer 116. Thus, when the switches 105 open the appropriate relays 123 are maintained in an energized state. At the same time, the lamps remain energized by virtue of the circuit from the transformer through the wire 119, wire 118, the corresponding wire 116, the appropriate wire 124 and switch 126, the conductor 130, the conductor 131, the reset switch 121 and wire 132.

The reset switch, may be operated by suitable mechanism associated with the automatic pinsetter to be opened at the time desired in order to extinguish the lamps 117 and prepare the circuit to test for pins standing after the second ball in a frame. One suitable provision is to provide for opening the reset switch 121 on movement of the rake to sweep dead wood from the alley. As such an arrangement forms no part of the present invention, it is not described in further detail herein.

If desired, in lieu of connecting the switches 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the switches 30a, 11a (FIG. 3) and the switches 30b, 11b (FIG. 4) in a complete circuit back to the source, the pinsetter deck 11, 110 or 11b may be grounded instead. This is illustrated in the circuit diagram of FIG. 7 where the wire 115 representative of the deck is illustrated as connected to ground by the broken line showing at 150. In this case the wire 115 need not be connected back to the transformer secondary. Also, in this event the reset switch 121 may be grounded as illustrated in broken line at 151, and the wire 132 may be eliminated.

If desired, a strike signal or signals may be provided for energization in the event that all pins are downed by the first ball, as by means of lamps 140. A circuit may be completed to energize the lamps from the source 116 through a conductor 141, a normally open strike switch 142, a conductor 143, through the lamps 140, a conductor 145, the wire 118 and the wire 119 to the source. Detecting means not illustrated herein, forming a part of the pinsetter mechanism, may be provided for closing the switch 142 at the appropriate time. As this specific mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it is not described in greater detail herein.

It will be understood that the pin detecting switch mechanisms herein may be utilized to control lamps alone, without relays, or relays alone, without lamps, and may be used in connection with circuits other than indicating circuits.

I claim:

1. In a bowling pin handling apparatus having a deck movable toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley, a switch mechanism, comprising, a resilient pad on the deck engageable with the head of a pin standing on the alley when the deck is lowered, said pad being of a size to engage a pin standing-on a spot or off a spot in a normal off-spot area surrounding the spot, a central recess in the upper surface of the pad, a rigid plate in the recess movable upwardly toward the deck upon deformation of the pad by engagement with an on-spot or an off-spot pin, and a switch on the deck having a switch actuating plunger movable by the plate on upward movement of the latter.

2. In a bowling pin handling and indicating apparatus, an electrically conductive deck movable toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley, a resilient pad on the deck engageable with the head of a pin standing on the alley when the deck is lowered, a central recess in the upper surface of the pad, a metal plate in the recess movable upwardly upon engagement of the pad with a pin, a switch on the deck having an actuating plunger movable by said plate on upward movement of the latter, an indicating device, a circuit connecting the indicating device to an electrical source and to one side of said switch, means connecting the other side of the switch to said deck, and means connecting the deck to the source so that the indicating device is energized upon deformation of the pad by a standing pin.

3. In a bowling pin handling and indicating apparatus, a deck movable toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley, a plurality of resilient pads on the deck arranged to engage the heads of pins standing on the alley when the deck is lowered, a recess in the upper surface of each pad, a plate in each recess movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad by engagement with the pin, a switch on the deck adjacent each pad, each switch having a plunger movable by movement of the associated plate, an indicating device including a lamp corresponding to each pad, a circuit connecting the lamps in series with a source and in parallel with each other and connecting switches respectively in series with the lamps and in parallel with each other, so that when the deck is lowered the lamp corresponding to each actuated switch is energized.

4. In a bowling pin handling mechanism, a deck adapted to be mounted for movement toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley, a plurality of resilient pads stationarily secured to the undersurface of the deck in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of pin spots on which bowling pins are normally set on a bowling alley preparatory for bowling, the pads being arranged respectively to engage and be compressed by the heads of standing pins on the alley upon movement of the deck toward the alley, each pad having a pin engageable area several times greater than the cross-sectional area of the head of a pin thereby to encounter a corresponding pin standing on spot or ofi spot in a predetermined area surrounding the spot, a plurality of electric switches disposed respectively over the pads on the deck, each having a switch operating plunger having a relatively small cross-sectional area compared to the pin engageable area of the pad, and a rigid plate disposed in each pad adjacent the upper surface thereof, having an area several times greater than the cross-sectional area of the head of a pin and movable upwardly upon deformation of the pad on contact with a pin for actuating the associated switch operating plunger regardless of the location at which the pin engages the pad.

5. In a bowling pin handling mechanism, a deck adapted to be mounted for movement toward and away from the surface of a bowling alley, a plurality of resilient pads stationarily secured to the undersurface of the deck in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of pin spots on which bowling pins are normally set on a bowing alley preparatory for bowling, the pads being arranged respectively to engage and be locally compressed by the heads of standing pins on the alley upon movement of the deck toward the alley, each pad having a pin engageable area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the head of a pin thereby to encounter a corresponding pin standing on spot or 011 spot in a predetermined area surrounding the spot, a centrally disposed, relatively shallow recess in the upper surface of each pad having an area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the head of a pin, a relatively thin rigid plate disposed in each recess, having an area approximately equal the area of the recess, and movable upwardly for controlling a circuit upon deformation of the pad on contact with a pin, an electric switch disposed above each pad including a switch actuating plunger engageable by the associated plate upon upward movement of the latter for operating the switch, thereby to provide a signal regardless of the location of the local deformation of the pad by the pin.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of each switch actuating plunger is relatively small compared to the area of each plate.

References Cited by the Examiner DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, ELLIS E. FULLER,

Examiners. 

1. IN A BOWLING PIN HANDLING APPARATUS HAVING A DECK MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SURFACE OF A BOWLING ALLEY, A SWITCH MECHANISM, COMPRISING, A RESILIENT PAD ON THE DECK ENGAGEABLE WITH THE HEAD OF A PIN STANDING ON THE ALLEY WHEN THE DECK IS LOWERED, SAID PAD BEING OF A SIZE TO ENGAGE A PIN STANDING ON A SPOT OR OFF A SPOT IN A NORMAL OFF-SPOT AREA SURROUNDING THE SPOT, A CENTRAL RECESS IN THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE PAD, A RIGID PLATE IN THE RECESS MOVABLE UPWARDLY TOWARD THE DECK UPON DEFORMATION OF THE PAD BY ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ON-SPOT OF AN OFF-SPOT PIN, AND A SWITCH ON THE DECK HAVING A SWITCH ACTUATING PLUNGER MOVABLE BY THE PLATE ON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER. 